Skimmer box forming tool

ABSTRACT

This present invention is an attachment for a skidsteer loader, backhoe or other work type vehicle that can be used to quickly form the skimmer box walls when building a swimming pool. This invention significantly reduces the time required to prepare the skimmer box. In addition, this invention improves the safety of swimming pool construction by eliminating this strenuous job for workers and the risk of potential injury while digging the skimmer box hole. This invention reduces the costs of building a swimming pool by reducing the amount of time workers are required in the construction process. In addition, material savings can be incurred by reducing the amount of gunite required in the swimming pool construction process

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to an attachment for skidsteer loaders, backhoes or other work type vehicles. More particularly, this invention pertains to an attachment to be used as a tool for quickly forming a skimmer box.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The use of attachments on skidsteer loaders, backhoes and other work type vehicles to aid in performing various tasks is known. During the excavation of a swimming pool, it is common to use a skidsteer loader because of its smaller size and maneuverability. Many swimming pools are excavated using a skidsteer loader and a standard bucket attachment. Skidsteer loaders with a standard bucket attachment are used to remove dirt from a hole in constructing a swimming pool. However, the current attachments used on skidsteer loaders are not shaped specifically to form a skimmer box and skimmer boxes are formed today by manually digging and shaping the hole for the skimmer box. This manual process of building the skimmer box is time consuming, requires much effort and can be costly. In addition, some areas of the country are very rocky and this adds to the difficulty in building the skimmer box structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention is an attachment for a skidsteer loader, backhoe or other work type vehicle that can be used to quickly form the skimmer box during the excavation phase prior to the steel reinforcement phase of building a swimming pool. The attachment is connected to the vehicle and carried to the wall of the swimming pool. The attachment is aligned to the top of the swimming pool where the skimmer box is to be located. The attachment is then inserted fully into the ground. The vehicle then raises the attachment and any dirt or other material is carried away from the wall of the pool. The skimmer box structure has now been formed. The invention quickly forms the skimmer box structure in seconds with very smooth walls and little effort.

This invention eliminates the need for workers to spend time and effort digging out the skimmer box. This invention significantly reduces the time required to prepare the skimmer box for a swimming pool. In addition, this invention improves the safety of swimming pool construction by eliminating this strenuous job for workers. Moreover, this job was performed at the edge of the swimming pool and inherently had a risk of injury by falling into the pool.

This invention reduces the costs of building a swimming pool by reducing the number of workers required in the construction process. In addition, the use of the invention will reduce the amount of gunite required in the swimming pool construction process due to the skimmer box wall being cut to size by the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view from a slightly elevated view according to one embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an overhead plan view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1 from the same elevation;

FIG. 5 is a side plane view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the attachment shown in FIG. 1 from the same elevation;

FIG. 7 is an environmental view illustrating a conventional skidsteer loader with the present invention attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an attachment according to the instant invention. As illustrated, the attachment includes a structure 11 shaped like a box with one open side. Structure 11 also includes a hole on the top side of the box to allow for pressure relief when inserting in a wall. The structure 11 is attached to item 12 which also includes a hole for pressure relief. Item 12 extends beyond the shape of Item 111 to form a solid support structure. Items 11 and 12 are attached to connecting frame 13. Connecting frame 13 has extensions 14 and 15 on the bottom of the connecting frame 12 and slanted away from the structure 11. Items 14 and 15 have rectangular holes in them large enough for a skidsteer loader arm to be inserted. Items 16 and 18 act as shields and are attached to the connecting frame 13. Item 17 is part of the connecting frame 13.

FIG. 2 shows the open side of structure 11 that is used to make initial contact with the swimming pool wall for forming the skimmer box. The open side has a beveled edge that makes contact with the surface and aids the attachment in entering the dirt or other type of surface. In addition, it shows the side of the structure 11 and the attachment of structure 11 to item 12 and then to connecting frame 13.

FIG. 3 is an overhead plan view showing the hole atop structure 11 as well as the extensions 14 and 15 and items 12 and 17 from above.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the attachment. The hole in item 12 is shown. Item 111 is shown positioned relative to item 13.

FIG. 5 is a side plane view. The extension 14 is shown angling away from the attachment. Shield 16 is shown on a side view. Item 11 is shown from a side view.

FIG. 6 shows Item 12 positioned relative to the invention. Item 17 is shown at a front view.

FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional skidsteer loader attached to the invention. One arm of the skidsteer loader is shown extending through item 14. Item 11 is shown centered between the arms of the skidsteer loader with the hole in item 11 on the top. 

1. An attachment for securement to a skidsteer loader, backhoe or other work-type vehicle for use in constructing a skimmer box for a swimming pool having; A connecting frame with extensions near the bottom of said connecting frame allowing for the connection to a vehicle latching mechanism; A base, shaped like a box, with five sides and an open end, including; a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side and a back side, as well as two open cutouts; The said open side has edges that are shaped to cut through the surface; The back side of said base connected perpendicular to said connecting frame and near the bottom so that the base is directed just above the latching mechanism and along the opposite side of the extensions providing support when the vehicle is attached;
 2. An attachment according to claim #1, wherein said base is in dimensions approximately 15 to 30 inches wide by 15 to 30 inches high by 15 to 30 inches deep.
 3. An attachment according to claim #1, wherein said base is in dimensions approximately 24 inches wide by 28 inches high by 28 inches deep.
 4. A method for constructing a skimmer box during swimming pool or spa construction comprising the steps of: a. connecting a skidsteer loader to an attachment having a connecting frame, a base shaped like a box and an open side, b. moving the attachment to the swimming pool wall and c. raising the attachment to near the top of the wall surface where the skimmer box is to be located; d. inserting the open end of the base of the attachment with a cutting edge into the wall and e. raising the attachment to remove the dirt and other items from the wall and thus forming the shape for the skimmer box. 